10 year GC

[Dakine 26]

Do you have to have or get a 10 year GC to get your US citizenship? That's is have it in hand before you can get USC?

[reeses16 8]

Sort of....

For marriage based citizenship you need to have been a green card holder for 3 years. If you entered on a K1 (or one of the spousal visa and your marriages was less than 2yrs) your green card is only good for 2 year. You will need to lift conditions (apply for a 10 year GC) to in order to be eligible for citizenship the following year.

[reeses16 8]

Oh, I missunderstood. I'm not sure if you have to have the 10yr GC in your hand. I know that you can apply for citizenship while the 10yr card is processing (if its taken longer than 1 year and in that time you have become eligible for citizenship), but I don't know if it has to be in your hand.

[AusCal 3]

I'm not sure if you have to have the 10yr GC in your hand. I know that you can apply for citizenship while the 10yr card is processing (if its taken longer than 1 year and in that time you have become eligible for citizenship),

You are correct, if your "removal of conditions - i-751" is still being processed and you become eligible to apply for citizenship, you can apply for citizenship, and, if it is granted, your I-751 is appoved at the same time. It is not necessary for the i-751 to have completed processing before your citizenship can be approved (well, maybe technically it is, but, they can be done at the same time) I think what you are asking is do you need to wait until you receive that undocnditional green card - that answer is definitely no.

[Dakine 26]

I'm not sure if you have to have the 10yr GC in your hand. I know that you can apply for citizenship while the 10yr card is processing (if its taken longer than 1 year and in that time you have become eligible for citizenship),

You are correct, if your "removal of conditions - i-751" is still being processed and you become eligible to apply for citizenship, you can apply for citizenship, and, if it is granted, your I-751 is appoved at the same time. It is not necessary for the i-751 to have completed processing before your citizenship can be approved (well, maybe technically it is, but, they can be done at the same time) I think what you are asking is do you need to wait until you receive that undocnditional green card - that answer is definitely no.

I just wanted to know if you had to have the 10 year GC in hand to get US citizenship in case the I-751 drags out.

[NickD 202]

I'm not sure if you have to have the 10yr GC in your hand. I know that you can apply for citizenship while the 10yr card is processing (if its taken longer than 1 year and in that time you have become eligible for citizenship),

You are correct, if your "removal of conditions - i-751" is still being processed and you become eligible to apply for citizenship, you can apply for citizenship, and, if it is granted, your I-751 is appoved at the same time. It is not necessary for the i-751 to have completed processing before your citizenship can be approved (well, maybe technically it is, but, they can be done at the same time) I think what you are asking is do you need to wait until you receive that undocnditional green card - that answer is definitely no.

I just wanted to know if you had to have the 10 year GC in hand to get US citizenship in case the I-751 drags out.

Is the USCIS still dragging their feet in I-751 processing? Wife got hers just three weeks before her interview appointment, but the N-400 form states you have to be a lawful permanent resident, and you are if you have an expired two year card with a current one year extension notice. We sent in copies of her expired green card and her one year extension notice and they did accept our application. They took away her ten year card at the oath ceremony, she only had it about two months. Sure a lot of work, stress, and sweat to get that card only to have it for that short period of time.

She asked it they could punch a hole in it or something so she could keep it as a keepsake, said no, wanted it back. But I said, at least you can keep your expired two year card for a keepsake, that was also and even more expensive and time consuming card to get. Guess carrying those cards for years becomes a part of your body, but I think she is much happier today carrying nothing.